Mert graduated from Galatasaray High School and obtained his law degree from Istanbul University Law School. He studied his LL.M. studies at Istanbul Bilgi University.
Mert is a founding partner at Vardar Şanlı, focusing on international litigation, arbitration, and complex dispute resolution. He represents corporate and individual clients in high-stakes cross-border disputes. His work frequently involves coordinating legal strategies across jurisdictions and managing sophisticated enforcement processes. He also advises clients in regulated and capital-intensive sectors, including renewable energy, where disputes often arise in relation to investment structures, regulatory compliance, and project development.
In addition to his dispute resolution practice, Mert has significant expertise in financial crime and global asset recovery. He advises clients on fraud investigations, compliance failures, misconduct management, and cross-border asset tracing strategies. His practice also includes conducting internal investigations and assisting companies in strengthening their compliance and risk management frameworks.
Mert is also active in the crypto-assets sector, advising service providers on licensing, regulatory compliance, investigations, and disputes involving digital assets. He regularly assists clients in navigating the evolving regulatory landscape of crypto-assets and blockchain-based financial systems.
Mert is fluent in English and French.
Prior to founding his own firm, Şanlı & Partners (currently known as Vardar Şanlı), in 2019, Mert worked at reputable law firms where he gained extensive experience in restructurings, M&As and financings, including project and acquisition financings in particular. He is fluent in English and French.
Mert has been ranked as Up and Coming in litigation practice area by Chambers and Partners in 2026.
What Clients Say:
“The Dispute Resolution Team of Vardar Şanlı is led by İsmail Mert Şanlı and praised by clients for combining ‘sharp legal expertise with a modern, solutions-driven approach’, and is experienced in a broad range of domestic and international disputes, including shareholder conflicts, commercial litigation, and insolvency proceedings, as well as international arbitration.” (The Legal 500, 2026)
“İsmail Mert Şanlı is incredible and very caring. We have high trust in him as a lawyer.” (The Legal 500, 2026)
“İsmail Mert Şanlı stands out with his ability to provide fast, pragmatic, and business-oriented solutions. What makes him different from competitors is his skill in breaking down legal issues into clear, actionable steps.” (The Legal 500, 2026)
“The Compliance Practice is overseen by Çağdaş Umut Vardar and İsmail Mert Şanlı, who is an expert in the energy, capital markets, fintech and crypto sectors, and is particularly skilled in corporate governance and financial regulation.” (The Legal 500, 2026)
“We also worked with İsmail Mert Şanlı and Melih Kara, who were both very responsive, approachable, and made the process much easier with their quick feedback.” (The Legal 500, 2026)
“Among the individuals I have worked with, İsmail Mert Şanlı clearly stands out. He combines strong legal expertise with excellent communication skills, positioning him at a very high level in his field. What differentiates him is not only his depth of knowledge, but also his ability to lead his team with remarkable effectiveness. The way he manages and coordinates the associates under his supervision ensures that the process runs smoothly and efficiently, minimizing challenges for the client. Working with Mr. Şanlı has made the entire experience highly constructive and seamless. His leadership and professionalism provide a level of assurance that is rare to find, and I can confidently say that we would gladly work with him again in future engagements.” (The Legal 500, 2026)
“Both Mert and Çağdaş are very dedicated to their job and very good at building relations with their clients. They always chase the problem and try to solve it from the essence of the trouble or subject that guidance is required.” (The Legal 500, 2026)
“He is very good at communication and has strict work discipline.” (Chambers and Partners, 2026)
“He is super knowledgeable, really approachable and always makes sure he understands exactly what we need.” (Chambers and Partners, 2026)
“Mert does not simply identify issues; he consistently offers workable, commercially sound solutions, making him a trusted adviser and an extension of our own team.” (Chambers and Partners, 2026)
“İsmail Mert Sanli is very helpful and keen on delivering a positive outcome.” (Chambers and Partners, 2026)
